Listen. Not every summer needs to be a “hot girl summer.” Some of us are opting out of hustle, heatstroke, and high expectations and leaning into something softer. Something slower. Something a little more sacred.

Welcome to my Gentle Summer 2025, the season of intentional living, barefoot walks, berry-stained fingers, and saying no thanks to burnout.

Here in Southeast Alaska, “summer season” kicks off in April when the cruise ships roll in and the whole town shifts into high gear. It’s a full-blown energetic whiplash—one minute we’re in winter hibernation mode, and the next we’re dodging tour groups in the streets and working longer hours just to keep up.

I’ve spent plenty of seasons riding that wave of go-go-go. And honestly? I’m tired. My nervous system is tired. My joints are tired. My soul is craving space, softness, and slowness.

So this year, I’m setting the intention to have a Gentle Summer. Not a summer of productivity for the sake of just feeling productive. Not a summer of pushing. A summer of presence. Of ease. Of choosing rest over rush. Sound like something your body (and spirit) needs too? Let’s talk about how.

5 Ways to Embrace a Gentle Summer

1. Move slower than you think you need to.

Seriously. Whatever pace you think you should be moving at—cut it in half. Then check in with your body. Sit in the sunshine with your knitting. Water your plants like it’s a sacred ritual. Take the long way home. Softness is revolutionary.

2. Delight in the simple stuff.

Fresh strawberries. Cold ocean water on bare feet. The way light lingers until 10 p.m. You don’t need an elaborate vacation to feel alive this summer. Make a list of the small joys that bring you back to yourself—and let them be enough.

3. Touch moss. No, really.

I am not kidding. Nature is medicine, and she’s out here doing the most. Whether it’s picking berries, forest bathing, or just sipping iced tea on your porch, let the outside world remind you how to breathe again.

4. Make rest a ritual, not a reward.

Rest isn’t something you “earn”—it’s something you deserve. Rest because you are worthy, not because you crossed 10 things off your to-do list. Nap unapologetically. Say no with kindness. Knit slowly. Stretch gently. Light a candle just because.

5. Practice gratitude like it’s a spell.

Let the warmth of the sun on your skin be a blessing. Let your morning tea be a moment of magic. Gratitude doesn’t need to be performative—it can be a soft whisper to the universe: Thank you. More of this, please.

This summer, I am choosing softness as resistance. I am creating a slow, joy-filled life in the middle of a fast, demanding world. Chronic illness or not, your body is allowed to crave gentleness. Your mind is allowed to rest. Your spirit is allowed to bloom quietly.

**So what does your Gentle Soft Summer look like?**

Let’s rest. Let’s knit. Let’s reclaim summer on our own terms.
You in Sis?

Share your intentions in the comments or tag us on Instagram using #GentleSoftSummer and #thisBTCHknits

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A Gentle Summer: Slowing Down with Intention in 2025